I was so sorry that many of you were not able to attend this mini-reunion
due to health and various other reasons. I want all of you to know that you
were sorely missed by all of us.
I will now write up one of my brief letters and let you all know just what
we all did besides eat. As usual I came to Hope a day early and on the
way down I picked up Nelda Doyle who flew into L.R. Airport from
Houston a day early and had spent Wed. night with Mary Jo Fincher
Curtis. We arrived at MJ's about noon and the three of us went out to eat
at a nice cafe near MJ's new home. MJ said she had down sized some but
most of it was less yard. She still has a beautiful zero-lot-line home in a
very nice neighborhood.
Nelda and I arrived at Tom's bank in Hope at about 4 p.m., thinking we
were the first there, but we later learned that several others arrived on
Wednesday and had spent the day at the Hope Country Club playing golf
or at least that was what they claimed. Those there playing golf were Dean
R., Donnell Bagley, Joel Osborn, Perry and Jimmy Easterling. (“Jamup”
(Jimmy) took a lot of pictures for the web site viewers to see)
Nelda and I settled in at the Best Western Motel where we eaeach had
reservations for four days of fun and fellowship with our HHS classmates
of over 50 plus years ago. As has been learned in the past, there are not too
many good eating places around Hope, so we had our evening meal at the
Western Sizzling with Nelda’s sister, Lana Munn, who used to work as
secretary to Tom Hays at the bank. TE joined us for dessert and our time
together was special. BJ had another obligation so was unable to join us.
So far the weather was sunny and beautiful.
As usual I checked out on Friday the place we were to eat our evening
meal to see if the Amigo One Restaurant could hold thirty or more and the
owner assured me that it could and they were expecting our ‘53 class at
around 6 p.m.
Early on Friday as is my custom I went to the continental breakfast at about
8 am and the first person I saw was this pretty lady, Margie Nell Wilson
Hubbard. I went up and gave her a kiss on the cheek. I startled her at first
as she had never seen me with a beard before.
Later on Donnell Bagley came in and joined us and the visiting began. It
was from “Jug” (Donnell) that I learned about the golf match the day
before. Margie and I then went to Nelda's room and carried her some
breakfast and the visiting continued.
If most of you do not know by now, I am a counter and I like to make sure
that everyone in Hope was aware of the reunion. Nelda and I went to visit
her Aunt Day and my neighbor and friend, Ann Thrash Grigg, who both
reside at an assisted-living home where Dr. Holt formerly lived. After a
short visit with both ladies by Nelda and me, we split off as Nelda's sister
Lana was to pick her up and they were to do girl things.
I had a date at the Memory Gardens to meet Margie Nell where she was to
place flowers on the graves of her parents and I was to visit Benja's grave.
As I walked up to Margie that morning in the cemetery I told Margie "we
are going to have to quit meeting at places like this." Margie had an
appointment to meet someone at 10:30 a.m. and we all ( Margie, Nelda,
Lana, MJ and I) had agreed to meet at Cherry's for lunch at noon.
I had some spare time and TE had a board meeting so I went and had a
good visit with Jesse Duke. We spent an hour or so visiting and trying to
think who all in Hope would be at the meal that evening at the Mexican
Cafe. Jess and I spent our time calling many locals in Hope to remind them
to make sure they knew about the function that evening. This time was
well spent as we had forty in attendance and thirty is maximum for the
room.
Ned Ray and Carolyn Purtle had to sit at a small table as we packed the
place out that evening. Others in attendance Friday night were Darryl and
Joyce Messer, Nelda Doyle and Clyde, Mary Jo Fincher Curtis, Margie
Nell Wilson Hubbard, Donnell Bagley, Perry and Pat Easterling, Dean
Roach, James and Betty Willis, Ellis Rothwell, Dr. Bob and Arleta Power,
Howard Thornton, Sandra and Ron Richards (who led us in prayer for the
meal) and Marian Taylor (Ron's cousin), Kenneth and Diane Stewart, Bert
and Harriet Chamberlain, Tom and BJ Hays, Jesse and Carolyn Duke,
Johnny and Dottie Tabor, Terriel and Bobbie Sparks, "Mutt" Byers, Gayle
Foster Wiggins, Phillip and Linda Gilbert, Tom and Hazel Beck and Perry‘s
brother, Jimmy Easterling.
We had to wait about 45 minutes for the tables to be rearranged and some
prior customers to finish their meals but the wait was well worth it as the
meal and service were excellent as was the fellowship. As we were
finishing up, several folks gave me the bad news about the weather forecast
and wanted to know what the contingency plan was in case of rain.
I simply said, "We will play the hand the Lord deals us." The area has
been in need of rain for some time in the Ark-La-Tex and this is an answer
to many prayers. Needless to say I did not know that the monsoons were
to start later that night and to continue on as we speak and it was to turn
cold as well.
We awoke the next morning and it was raining "cats and dogs." Ron
Richards was there as planned with our car passes to the Jonquil Festival.
Many of us began to gather in the various motel rooms, laughing and having
such a wonderful time that before we knew it, it was approaching 11a.m.
and we still had not decided what to do. We took a vote to see if any were
interested in going on to Old Washington to eat and then on to Marian
Taylor's home for some more visiting and fun.
We called Tom and BJ and Bert and Harriet to let them know what our
plans were and hopefully we all could hook up at the old cafe in
Washington. About fifteen of us made it and we had another wonderful
meal. Then on to Marian's we went for pie, cake etc. where Sandra R. and
Marian were waiting for us. By the time all this fun and fellowshipping
were over, it was now nearing 2 p.m. After a nap for some of us, it would
be time for the evening meal at the Western Sizzling at 6:30pm.
All that had been to the meal on Friday (40) except three again returned for
the short business meeting and meal Saturday evening and we were joined
by several others. Those additional persons were Nell and Ron Butler,
Bonnie and Gail Sinyard, Soc and Audrey Keith, Frances S. Arnold, Johnny
and Barbara Cox, and "Jamup" Jimmy Easterling. Darryl Messer led us in
prayer for the evening meal.
Bonnie and Betty gave the financial reports and we are very solvent. It was
reported by Betty Willis that we are paid up on the website for 63 months.
Ron Richards and Nell C. Butler gave the class an update on a special
child who is Nell Butler's kin that we are helping financially. Betty Jo
Hays reported on a $250 donation we had made to The Old Presbyterian
Church in honor of Joe and Joella Amour where they had been married.
We closed out the Saturday night meal and meeting with the HHS school
song led by Betty Jo Hays.
There are 27 in the group picture posted on the 2006 Reunion section and a
total of 48 attended on Saturday evening.
As usual Nelda and I stayed on until Monday. We went to three old
churches in Washington, Arkansas, on Sunday--with Marian Taylor in the
morning to the Methodist for preaching and the Baptist for the noon meal.
That evening we had services with the Hays and others at the Amours’ old
church which is very special. If you get an opportunity, I suggest you all
do the same one day.
We topped off Sunday night with a meal and ice cream at Wendy's with the
Hays--burgers and fries that Nelda just had to have and I love also.
I had a great time and again I am sorry you all could not attend this
year. Now start planning for 2007 as it will be here before you all
know it.
In Christ's great love,
Clyde
March 20, 2006
due to health and various other reasons. I want all of you to know that you
were sorely missed by all of us.
I will now write up one of my brief letters and let you all know just what
we all did besides eat. As usual I came to Hope a day early and on the
way down I picked up Nelda Doyle who flew into L.R. Airport from
Houston a day early and had spent Wed. night with Mary Jo Fincher
Curtis. We arrived at MJ's about noon and the three of us went out to eat
at a nice cafe near MJ's new home. MJ said she had down sized some but
most of it was less yard. She still has a beautiful zero-lot-line home in a
very nice neighborhood.
Nelda and I arrived at Tom's bank in Hope at about 4 p.m., thinking we
were the first there, but we later learned that several others arrived on
Wednesday and had spent the day at the Hope Country Club playing golf
or at least that was what they claimed. Those there playing golf were Dean
R., Donnell Bagley, Joel Osborn, Perry and Jimmy Easterling. (“Jamup”
(Jimmy) took a lot of pictures for the web site viewers to see)
Nelda and I settled in at the Best Western Motel where we eaeach had
reservations for four days of fun and fellowship with our HHS classmates
of over 50 plus years ago. As has been learned in the past, there are not too
many good eating places around Hope, so we had our evening meal at the
Western Sizzling with Nelda’s sister, Lana Munn, who used to work as
secretary to Tom Hays at the bank. TE joined us for dessert and our time
together was special. BJ had another obligation so was unable to join us.
So far the weather was sunny and beautiful.
As usual I checked out on Friday the place we were to eat our evening
meal to see if the Amigo One Restaurant could hold thirty or more and the
owner assured me that it could and they were expecting our ‘53 class at
around 6 p.m.
Early on Friday as is my custom I went to the continental breakfast at about
8 am and the first person I saw was this pretty lady, Margie Nell Wilson
Hubbard. I went up and gave her a kiss on the cheek. I startled her at first
as she had never seen me with a beard before.
Later on Donnell Bagley came in and joined us and the visiting began. It
was from “Jug” (Donnell) that I learned about the golf match the day
before. Margie and I then went to Nelda's room and carried her some
breakfast and the visiting continued.
If most of you do not know by now, I am a counter and I like to make sure
that everyone in Hope was aware of the reunion. Nelda and I went to visit
her Aunt Day and my neighbor and friend, Ann Thrash Grigg, who both
reside at an assisted-living home where Dr. Holt formerly lived. After a
short visit with both ladies by Nelda and me, we split off as Nelda's sister
Lana was to pick her up and they were to do girl things.
I had a date at the Memory Gardens to meet Margie Nell where she was to
place flowers on the graves of her parents and I was to visit Benja's grave.
As I walked up to Margie that morning in the cemetery I told Margie "we
are going to have to quit meeting at places like this." Margie had an
appointment to meet someone at 10:30 a.m. and we all ( Margie, Nelda,
Lana, MJ and I) had agreed to meet at Cherry's for lunch at noon.
I had some spare time and TE had a board meeting so I went and had a
good visit with Jesse Duke. We spent an hour or so visiting and trying to
think who all in Hope would be at the meal that evening at the Mexican
Cafe. Jess and I spent our time calling many locals in Hope to remind them
to make sure they knew about the function that evening. This time was
well spent as we had forty in attendance and thirty is maximum for the
room.
Ned Ray and Carolyn Purtle had to sit at a small table as we packed the
place out that evening. Others in attendance Friday night were Darryl and
Joyce Messer, Nelda Doyle and Clyde, Mary Jo Fincher Curtis, Margie
Nell Wilson Hubbard, Donnell Bagley, Perry and Pat Easterling, Dean
Roach, James and Betty Willis, Ellis Rothwell, Dr. Bob and Arleta Power,
Howard Thornton, Sandra and Ron Richards (who led us in prayer for the
meal) and Marian Taylor (Ron's cousin), Kenneth and Diane Stewart, Bert
and Harriet Chamberlain, Tom and BJ Hays, Jesse and Carolyn Duke,
Johnny and Dottie Tabor, Terriel and Bobbie Sparks, "Mutt" Byers, Gayle
Foster Wiggins, Phillip and Linda Gilbert, Tom and Hazel Beck and Perry‘s
brother, Jimmy Easterling.
We had to wait about 45 minutes for the tables to be rearranged and some
prior customers to finish their meals but the wait was well worth it as the
meal and service were excellent as was the fellowship. As we were
finishing up, several folks gave me the bad news about the weather forecast
and wanted to know what the contingency plan was in case of rain.
I simply said, "We will play the hand the Lord deals us." The area has
been in need of rain for some time in the Ark-La-Tex and this is an answer
to many prayers. Needless to say I did not know that the monsoons were
to start later that night and to continue on as we speak and it was to turn
cold as well.
We awoke the next morning and it was raining "cats and dogs." Ron
Richards was there as planned with our car passes to the Jonquil Festival.
Many of us began to gather in the various motel rooms, laughing and having
such a wonderful time that before we knew it, it was approaching 11a.m.
and we still had not decided what to do. We took a vote to see if any were
interested in going on to Old Washington to eat and then on to Marian
Taylor's home for some more visiting and fun.
We called Tom and BJ and Bert and Harriet to let them know what our
plans were and hopefully we all could hook up at the old cafe in
Washington. About fifteen of us made it and we had another wonderful
meal. Then on to Marian's we went for pie, cake etc. where Sandra R. and
Marian were waiting for us. By the time all this fun and fellowshipping
were over, it was now nearing 2 p.m. After a nap for some of us, it would
be time for the evening meal at the Western Sizzling at 6:30pm.
All that had been to the meal on Friday (40) except three again returned for
the short business meeting and meal Saturday evening and we were joined
by several others. Those additional persons were Nell and Ron Butler,
Bonnie and Gail Sinyard, Soc and Audrey Keith, Frances S. Arnold, Johnny
and Barbara Cox, and "Jamup" Jimmy Easterling. Darryl Messer led us in
prayer for the evening meal.
Bonnie and Betty gave the financial reports and we are very solvent. It was
reported by Betty Willis that we are paid up on the website for 63 months.
Ron Richards and Nell C. Butler gave the class an update on a special
child who is Nell Butler's kin that we are helping financially. Betty Jo
Hays reported on a $250 donation we had made to The Old Presbyterian
Church in honor of Joe and Joella Amour where they had been married.
We closed out the Saturday night meal and meeting with the HHS school
song led by Betty Jo Hays.
There are 27 in the group picture posted on the 2006 Reunion section and a
total of 48 attended on Saturday evening.
As usual Nelda and I stayed on until Monday. We went to three old
churches in Washington, Arkansas, on Sunday--with Marian Taylor in the
morning to the Methodist for preaching and the Baptist for the noon meal.
That evening we had services with the Hays and others at the Amours’ old
church which is very special. If you get an opportunity, I suggest you all
do the same one day.
We topped off Sunday night with a meal and ice cream at Wendy's with the
Hays--burgers and fries that Nelda just had to have and I love also.
I had a great time and again I am sorry you all could not attend this
year. Now start planning for 2007 as it will be here before you all
know it.
In Christ's great love,
Clyde
March 20, 2006
